NHL Free Agency: 10 Teams That Need to Make A Move

Please note that these rumors are not predicated by any inside information, nor are they actual trade rumors in the least. Instead, these are players and trade partners that would make sense for said organizations, via both trade and free agency, and players that could be had for the right price.

The opening days of free agency are over and the dust is starting to settle.

This is the time where teams look at what they need and realistically start to assess their expectations for next season.

Some teams need to make moves to get better, others need to make moves to make room and even others need to make moves to get rid of problems. Whatever the case may be, one thing is for certain—the intrigue of this offseason is far from over.

But, what teams need to make moves? What teams have the most pressing needs?

Florida Panthers

Let’s be honest here. In the midst of a rebuilding period, there is a lot that Florida needs.

More than anything, however, the team is in desperate need of a star player—a forward, preferably.

The Panthers lacked that star power last season, and played admirably despite their lack of talent. A star could be exactly what this team needs to both electrify their fan base and speed up their rebuilding process.

The Panthers lacked scoring last season and the loss of their second leading scorer, Nathan Horton, certainly won’t help matters.

The good news for Florida, however, is that they have Dale Tallon at the helm. Tallon was the architect behind much of the renaissance that has taken place in Chicago, and has already started a strong off season with a very strong draft.

He executed a low-risk, high-reward signing on day two of free agency, inking forward Chris Higgins to a one-year deal. However, Higgins is far from the star player that the Panthers need.

The same could be said for Michael Grabner and Steve Bernier.

So, what are Florida’s options?

Well, the free agent pool is still fairly-filled with wingers that could benefit the Panthers. Alexander Frolov and Maxim Afinogenov, to name a couple, along with the biggest fish of all, in Ilya Kovalchuk.

But, will Tallon settle, will he go after the big fish left in the pond, or will he show patience and allow for his young draftees to develop?

New York Rangers

If there is any city in pro sports that is less forgiving of ineptitude than the Rangers, I have yet to find it.

Despite all of that, the Rangers have watched Glen Sather make questionable move after questionable move—the latest of which was a four-year deal for former Minnesota Wild enforcer Derek Boogaard worth $1.65 million per year.

This is a team that is in desperate need of two things—defense and secondary scoring.

So, who do the Rangers look towards?

Trades could certainly help them unload some of their more questionable contracts, if they could even sell anyone on picking up one of those contracts, but the likelihood of that could be slim-to-none.

The chances of free agency looks slim, as they have just over $7 million in cap room. And, without the raises due to defensemen Marc Staal and Dan Girardi, they may be able to afford a second-tier free agent like Alex Ponikarovsky or Lee Stempniak.

The bottom line is that this is a team with some big needs and not a lot of options.

Detroit Red Wings

One thing is for certain, the Red Wings fans will not be satisfied if the team doesn’t challenge for the Western Conference crown this season.

What that means, is Detroit needs to make some depth-scoring signings without a whole lot of cash.

So, where do they look?

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland doesn’t make moves for the sake of making moves, so I wouldn’t expect the Wings to make any trades. But, veteran depth signings could definitely be in the cards for the Motor City.

The veterans that are available are most definitely ones that would be both cost effective and potentially very effective on the Red Wings roster.

Philadelphia Flyers

They have a total of approximately $550k in cap room, and are rumored to be pushing towards Evgeni Nabokov or Marty Turco to help solidify them in net.

So, the bottom line is that the Flyers need to move salary in order to improve their one area of weakness and make another push for the Stanley Cup.

The Flyers moved some of their salary, trading Ryan Parent in the deal for the negotiating rights for Dan Hamhuis, but they need more room, especially with the contracts of Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux up for negotiating following this season.

So, unlike the other teams, Philadelphia’s will be looking at who they could move rather than who they could trade for.

Montreal Canadiens

So, how do you reward the goaltender that led you on a miraculous Conference Final run?

Trade him, of course!

At least, that’s how the Habs rewarded Jaroslav Halak—trading him to the St. Louis Blues for a couple prospects.

The Habs signed Alex Auld in free agency and will likely be signing Carey Price soon as well. One thing that could definitely benefit the Habs, would be defense in front of a goaltender tandem that could be shaky at best.

But, how to get there?

Well, I’m glad you asked.

With their current cap situation, they have the flexibility to either sign a free agent defenseman or make a trade for one, making them an intriguing team to watch.

Calgary Flames

Could Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen be the answers that the Flames have been looking for?

Well, they certainly could, no matter how unlikely it might seem. But, what is more likely, is that the Flames are going to have to find a way to improve their team via trade.

They have no wiggle room under the cap and have some pretty ugly contracts to look at.

So, what do they need?

Well, first and foremost, a player who can score goals not named Iginla or Bourque.

They are hoping that person is Olli Jokinen, but that remains to be seen. There are some good goal scorers that could be available, should the need arise for Calgary to make a trade, and there have been a couple rumors floating around about who they might take, though nothing has been set in stone as of yet.

Atlanta Thrashers

Atlanta is most certainly in rebuilding mode after trading away their superstar forward to the Devils at last season’s trade deadline.

They have since added grit to their roster in the shape of forwards Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, and Dustin Byfuglien, but any fan would be fooling themselves if they thought that any of these players will fill the void left by Kovalchuk’s departure.

While Nik Antropov and Niclas Bergfors got some chemistry with one another, and Evander Kane and Bryan Little will continue to improve, Atlanta needs a player who will take up Kovalchuk’s mantle and lead this team.

With $28 million in cap space, there’s no doubt that the Thrashers have both the room and the desire to make a splash, and there are now rumors swirling that the prodigal son could return.

The Thrashers don’t seem to have the assets to make any big splashes in the trade market, but don’t be fooled. With Rick Dudley at the helm now, this team is going to get heading in the right direction very, very quickly.

Nashville Predators

How many first round exits will it take before the Nashville faithful begin to lose their patience?

The Preds have been a quality team every season for the last six seasons, never finishing with less than 88 points, but have also never been out of the first round of the playoffs.

What is necessary for this team to make it out of the first round?

More scoring, namely.

The addition of Patric Hornqvist to the squad was a great start towards this, and signing Matthew Lombardi should take them even further. But, the team still needs more offensive talent, especially with the loss of Jason Arnott.

The Preds are towards the bottom half of the league in their salaries and have done a lot with a little over the last few years. Maybe now it’s time for them to do more with a lot.